The Next Contestant (4 page)

AFTER ANOTHER KICK
ass game, which we won, again, the brothers and I are chilling, sitting at the oval kitchen table doing shots, drinking beer, getting trashed. There are people scattered everywhere; dancing and drinking in the living room, others on the deck, and some crazy ass bitches skinny-dipping in the pool.

Kolby’s eyebrows are furrowed but his lips stretch into a devious grin. He’s got something wild and crazy going on in that head of his.

“I’ve got an idea,” he says, raising his head then scans each of our faces, stopping on mine. “A little gambling that involves girls.”

“Go on,” I tell him.

“I think it’s time we let you and the new members in on a little secret. Our way of ‘hazing,’ if you will. Nothing life altering or alcohol induced, unless you choose to be intoxicated.”

Ah, shit. I hope this doesn’t center around any of us being put on display. Fuck it. I can do whatever they throw at me.

“Brothers,” Kolby announces. “Shall we show them the funhouse?”

Some groan while others hoot their “fuck yeah” and my stomach stirs. Kolby puts some of the brothers in charge of the party going on here at the house, while he takes us on a grand tour of said funhouse.

Six of us pile into his black Escalade. We drive a few miles down the road and park in front of Blaze. It’s some fancy college bar my dad mentioned but he didn’t expand on details or why I’d enjoy it. We enter the high-class digs and I assume we’ll have a few beers and be on our way to this fucking funhouse, but Kolby ushers us down a hall that opens into a wide space enclosed by three walls, each with glass doors.

“Brothers, this is party central for college students. There are three bars, hence the three entrances.” He points to each set of double doors as he speaks. “Blast is older rock, pop, hits from the nineties mostly. Slam is a sports bar, but the one straight ahead,” we follow him to the entrance, “this one is Muze, the most popular of the three. They play top 100 and a mix of other music.”

There’re musical notes, C-D’s and guitars, both real and stenciled pieces on the wall. On the far wall there’s a stage and behind it is a large screen made of squares where music videos play. The rest of the area is littered with round tables and stools. We head toward the stage, pass it, and push through the exit door. Kolby digs a set of keys out of his pocket, jiggles one into the deadbolt on a door marked PRIVATE, and we take an elevator to the next floor.

We exit to what resembles a mini Hampton Inn with marble floors, wingback chairs, and expensive trees at each end of the hall. At this point, I don’t get what the deal is. All I see is six rooms with long mirrored windows.
Odd.

We enter one of the rooms and there’s not much to it other than a king size bed with expensive pillows and threads. A small bar and bathroom make up the rest of the room.

I’ve heard the brothers like to gamble and I get the feeling we’re about to be the subjects of some bet.

AFTER KOLBY GIVES
us a brief run down, we leave. I’m sitting in the Escalade wondering if this is the kind of shit our fathers did back in their day. Blaze was built a long time ago but has obviously been remodeled and added on to. More specifically, the top level. Oh well. I’ve got plenty of money since dad’s happy with my kick ass grades, my devotion to the team, but mostly because I’m exactly where he’s always wanted me to be. I can afford to throw out some cash on a group gamble. Hell yeah I can. It’s a fraternity brotherhood thing.

“How’s this gonna work?” I ask.

Kolby taps his lips then glances at me in the rearview mirror. “We have to work around our tournaments and we’ll still have to practice our asses off for one of the biggest games of the year, which we intend to win ’cause we haven’t lost a game yet this season. But it all depends on who wants in on the bet. Jaden and Duggar, the computer geniuses will keep score. The rooms are already rigged with voice-activated recorders and hidden monitors, which are linked to their laptops. There are four rooms rigged and two spares available for private use. Say… for a special girl. You don’t want to take a potential hit to one of the spares. There’s nothing in them to record or monitor the game. You want points then you go to whatever room you’re assigned. The money we wager will all go to the winner, but you don’t get to keep it. There’s a huge party where several colleges get together, and since we host it, we always get the first place prize.”

“And what exactly is the prize?” I ask.

Kolby chuckles. “Man, it’s fucking beautiful. It involves some seriously hot chicks and a contest. There’s a panel of judges and they decide which chick is the hottest and one of us lucky bastards will get to take that chick on a… date, if you will. The money we wager is always more than the other fraternities can raise so we’re the lucky fucks—well one of us will be—who gets the hottest prize of the contest.”

Fuck yeah. Sounds like my kind of gamble.

Kolby pulls the Escalade over. We place our hands down for the bet, including Kolby, and we wager five grand like it’s fifteen bucks. Works for me. I’ve got a pretty good idea on how I’m gonna rack up the points, but that’s my secret, my key to winning.

The party is in full force when we return to the house. Sometime later, the subject of Kolby’s sister is brought up and it piques my interest.

I ask, “So what’s the deal with Kolby’s sister? Is she real because I keep hearing how hot she is, but she’s never been to a party and I don’t see any family photos in his room.”

“Dude, she’s so fuckin’ hot, the kind of hot that belongs on a pinup calendar, the kind of hot you wanna bend her shit over a table, strip her bare, and fuck her five ways till Sunday. And do it again and again. But Kolby… man, he beat the shit outta this guy… long story, but you don’t wanna go there. She’s off limits to the brothers.” Jaden shakes his head.

“Over some guy. Huh.” Not that I’m interested, but she’s a big girl who shouldn’t have to answer to her brother.

Jaden laughs. “Seriously? If you had a sister, would you want her dating any of us? ’Cause that’d be fucked up.”

“Ah. You’ve got a point, and hell no, I wouldn’t want any of you slimy bastards touching my sister… if I had one.”

“And no way Kolby’s gonna hang pictures or keep any around so some dick-weeds can swipe them up to stroke n spurt their fantasies over her.” Jaden gropes himself as if he’s already done that deed. Sick fucker.

“What’d you say her name was?”

“Why the hell you wanna know?” Jaden asks as if I’m some stalker about to hunt her down.

“Dude, chill out. I only ask so I can be sure to steer clear of her if I ever cross her path.”

“Ah. Good to know. It’s Kimmi.”

“Dually noted.” Doubt she’s as hot as that sweet little blonde I catch watching me at the games. Now that’s some shit I wanna get to know.

THE GIRLS AND
I are at dance practice. I’m in a stare off with this girl, Sandy, this redheaded Italian, and her sidekick, Darcy. I’m not sure what her problem is or why she dislikes me. I think she thinks I want to be captain and take over the dance team, but she’s totally pegged me incorrectly. I’m not interested, but I’m not going to let her know that.

Tiffany scurries up to me, breathless. “You… you’ve got to go with me.” She pauses to catch her breath.

“Go with you, where?”

“To the game,” she says and arches her brows in a plea.

“No,” I whisper because the coach is glancing our way. I’m a huge fan of my brother and his athletic abilities, but not a fan of fraternities and sororities. I prefer my freedom and choose not to live by some sorority code. My brother seems to think it’s the greatest thing, aside from soccer.

I’ve only been to a few of his games since the whole Devin thing went down, but I’ve heard a lot of hype about the newest player—Jax Nash—Devin’s replacement. Apparently he’s an excellent player and a huge asset for the team, but I hear more about how hot he is and a lot of sleazy talk coming from the fan girls.
He’s got the sexiest blond hair and blue eyes
to
Ohmygod! Did you see his jersey? The numbers
…
he totally owns it. Best
position ever!

“Pleeeeaaaase,” she squeals and I know I have no choice. If I say no again, she’s going to beg then get us in trouble for being loud and not paying attention.

I elbow Tiffany. “Fine, but be quiet. Coach is staring at us.”

“Okay,” she whispers. I catch a glimpse of her and her lips are twisted to the side, her attempt to be discreet. “There’s this guy, Vincenzo, who’s on your brother’s team… I think… hmm… anyway. I want to check him out. Please, Kimber, please go with me or at least meet me there so I don’t look like a total loser. Pleeeaaase! You can come later, maybe at half time or something? Janice said she’d go for the first part of the game, but she has to leave early—she has other obligations. And Diana, well you know. She’s all about the Deanster. He must have a big dick she likes to suck because, well, yeah.”

I try not to laugh and I know she’s about to go on down the line of friends and why they can’t go. I can’t say no. She’s my best friend—I’d feel guilty. “I’ll go at half time. Now be quiet and pay attention,” I whisper.

“Yes!” Tiffany shouts. Coach stops mid instruction and glares at us. “Oh, sorry, Coach Step. It won’t happen again.”

Coach nods and continues where she left off.

I FORCE MYSELF
to get ready and head for the game. Better late than never, right?

Arriving at half time, I walk the sidelines in search of Tiffany. and pause, sensing someone is watching me. I turn, and halt when the most beautiful seductive eyes meet mine. I vaguely notice the jersey, but then catch the numbers, and now understand what the gossip is about.

Turning swiftly, I march down the field. I see Tiffany waving and I quickly take my saved seat on the second row of bleachers.

After I’m settled, I search for him, and find him, his messy blond hair and the number on his jersey isn’t hard to miss. Who assigns that kind of number anyway? 69. And then I wonder if he’s that kind of guy… a 69er.

As if all my thoughts were a whisper on the breeze, carried along an invisible path, secretly betraying me and dancing into his ear, he shifts abruptly and catches me staring at him. He’s talking to Kolby, and he had to have said something about me because he points in my direction. I duck down behind Janice who’s sitting in the row in front of me, and pray my brother doesn’t see me.

“What are you doing?” Tiffany asks.

“Hiding from my brother. Is he still looking over here?”

“Um. Yeah. He’s so hot! I wish you’d set me up with him,” she squeals and I want to pinch her leg real bad.

“Tiffany! Just tell me if he’s still looking and stop ogling him, drawing attention our way. I don’t want him to see me because that blond guy, his teammate…,” I take a peek and he’s still pointing in our direction, but luckily Janice has blonde hair like me and Kolby probably thinks the new guy is pointing at her, “…number 69, he knows I’ve been staring at him. I swear he’s probably asking Kolby if he knows who I am.”